ata centres in London are utilizing consuming water to chill down servers, Thames Water has stated, because it launched a evaluate into the phenomenon.
The corporate stated it had launched a “focused train” to grasp how a lot consuming water is getting used on this method because the hosepipe ban comes into impact.
The utility firm has confronted criticism for bringing within the restriction affecting 15 million prospects after a drought when it leaks practically 1 / 4 of the water it provides.
In feedback reported by the Monetary Instances, John Hernon, strategic improvement supervisor at Thames Water, stated he launched the evaluate over rising demand for information centres, notably in Slough.
He stated: “It isn’t essential for information centres to make use of drinking-quality water for cooling. We need to have a look at how uncooked, non-drinking water can be utilized and reused”.
Information centres require plenty of vitality, which in flip should be cooled to keep away from overheating.
Most of the centres are situated in and round Slough, with their electrical energy use placing a pressure on West London’s community.
A report by the Larger London Authority discovered earlier this month: “Information centres use giant portions of electrical energy, the equal of cities or small cities, to energy servers and guarantee resilience in service.”
It added that “capability constraints” on the community in consequence might delay main new housing or industrial developments within the space.
Gary Aitkenhead, senior vice-president of operations at Equinix, one of many greatest information centre corporations on this planet, advised the FT that information centres confronted a “actual rigidity” between electrical energy and water use.
He stated that in hotter temperatures, water was often the one viable approach to cut back vitality consumption.
Nonetheless, Nick Bowes, of the Centre for London, advised the Telegraph: “Specializing in the water utilization of information centres looks like a distraction at a time when the highest priorities ought to be the quantity of water misplaced each day by means of leaks in Thames Water’s community.”
The Normal has contacted Thames Water for remark.
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